From the Stones to the Stars

Andrew Graham-Dixon and Giorgio Locatelli explore the culture and cuisine of the east coast of Italy. They visit Matera, a Unesco world heritage site.

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Andrew and Giorgio travel from the tip of the heel up Italy's dramatic east coast. Their journey starts in the instep of Italy and the region of Basilicata. Its most famous town is the spectacular Matera, also known as Sassi or 'Stones' after its caves inhabited since Palaeolithic times, and a Unesco world heritage site. There, Giorgio cooks a peasant recipe of mutton 'pignata' in a restored cave.

Next is the south eastern tip of the Italian peninsula, and Puglia - a generous, rich land with year-long sunny weather surrounded by azure sea. Staying off the tourist track they visit the baroque gem that is the town of Lecce, and discover the trulli of Alberobello and a unique Greek vase in the little town of Ruvo. They discover southern Italy is no stereotypical sleepy backwater but a place where the younger generation are going back to their roots and rediscovering traditions.